Answer:
Facts.
Explanation:
You can use the indirect pattern when you need to soften or delay bad news until after an explanation is given. Basically, understanding the four components of the indirect pattern will help you craft messages that convey empathy, present reasons, cushion bad news, and close pleasantly.
Hence, if you provide objective information in your opening the buffering technique you are using is facts.
This ultimately implies that, the opening of a message can be buffered through the inclusion of facts and as such introducing a bad news objectively. Also, the facts used as a buffer technique should be concise, relevant and straightforward.
